Rajiv Menon is an Indian filmmaker known for his work as a director and cinematographer in various Indian regional film industries. He gained recognition as a cinematographer with the film "Bombay" (1994), directed by Mani Ratnam. Since then, Menon has collaborated with Ratnam on several other projects, including "Guru" (2007) and "Kadal" (2013). As a director, he has helmed critically acclaimed Tamil films such as "Minsara Kanavu" (1997) and "Kandukondain Kandukondain" (2000), the latter of which won him a Filmfare Award.

Apart from his film career, Rajiv Menon is also a renowned advertising director. He owns Rajiv Menon Productions and Mindscreen Film Institute, which provides equipment for documentaries, advertising films, and cinemas.

Menon was born in Cochin, Kerala, and grew up in various parts of India due to his father's naval officer occupation. His exposure to different regions influenced his love for cinema, and he developed a keen interest in films from both Hindi and Malayalam languages. After moving to Madras (now Chennai), he enrolled in the Madras Film Institute, where he honed his filmmaking skills and drew inspiration from directors like Satyajit Ray and Balu Mahendra.

Before venturing into the film industry, Menon started as a still photographer and later worked on fashion shoots and corporate films. He eventually transitioned into directing commercials and established a successful career in the advertising industry. It was during this time that he collaborated with music composer A. R. Rahman on various projects.

In his film career, Rajiv Menon began with documentaries and worked with renowned filmmakers such as Girish Karnad and Shyam Benegal. He got his first break as a cinematographer in the film "Chaitanya" (1991), replacing P. C. Sreeram. Menon worked on a Kannada film titled "Cheluvi" (1992) with Girish Karnad and turned down opportunities to work on international projects like M. Night Shyamalan's "Praying with Anger" (1992) and Mani Ratnam's "Roja" (1992).

Rajiv Menon's contributions to the Indian film industry as a director, cinematographer, and advertising director have garnered him acclaim and recognition.